Racket Grip Reference Point Trainer

ABSTRACT

An attachment to the handle of a racket that tactically indicates to a player whether his/her hand has properly gripped the handle of a racket for a desired tennis stroke (e.g., forehand, backhand, etc.). The attachment is a band composed of rubber or a similar elastic material positioned around of the racket handle positioned such that the outer edge of the player&#39;s hand and smallest finger of the hand (also known as the “pinky” finger) rest on top of the band. The band further includes two “ridges” circumferentially equidistant from each other on the circular wrap, each protruding from the exterior the band to provide a surface against which the end of the player&#39;s finger will abut to provide a tactile stopping point for the player&#39;s hand when rotating the racket handle so as to achieve consistent hand placement for a designated grip as the player transitions from one grip to another during play.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/384,910, filed 8 Sep. 2016.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tennis is a very popular sport played around the world by people of allages. In order to become a skilled tennis player, it is necessary tolearn a variety of tennis racket grip types. Different grips aretypically used for various types of tennis strokes, such as forehands,backhands, volleys, serves, etc. The type of tennis racket grip useddirectly affects and controls the angle of the racket during theplayer's stroke, which, in turn, controls the direction and spin of thetennis ball during play.

The term “grip” is used to define both the covered handle portion of thetennis racket, and the manner in which the player wraps one or bothhands about the racket handle to hold onto the racket during play. Howthe player holds the racket determines the angle of the racket face anddefines how the strings of the racket contact the tennis ball during aswing or stroke. Further, it is critically important for players to gripthe racket consistently for each of these strokes so as to createconsistent contact points and angles between the racket and the ball.Better consistency helps to improve a player's performance.

This invention relates to training devices designed to be applied torackets, such as tennis rackets, and similar sporting objects having ornot having strings used to strike a ball, such as paddles, mallets, etc.to ensure that the player has properly gripped the handle thereof for adesignated stroke to obtain the proper angle of the racket face whencontacting the ball. More particularly, this invention relates to atactile tennis trainer that provides a tactual indication to the tennisplayer when the handle of the tennis racket is properly gripped andoriented for the desired grip associated with a certain type of strokeduring play.

Many training aids that exist today are designed to decrease the timeneeded for a player to become proficient in the game of tennis. Theseaids attempt to help players improve their swinging motion or to teachplayers how to properly grip the racket. Unfortunately, many of thesedevices involving accessories for the hand, wrist and forearm aregenerally usable for training only and are not feasibly used duringnormal tennis match play where the player must utilize alternatingstrokes and rotate the racket to different positions frequently andrepeatedly. Such training devices available today involve bands, strapsor other materials that extend from the racket to the player's arm,which are cumbersome or unfeasible for normal play. Other devices areitems that attach directly to the racket grip but protrude significantlyand obstructively from the racket grip, inhibiting a player's ability torotate the racket grip in an unencumbered manner. Other devices securethe hand in one place firmly against the grip, also making themunfeasible as they inhibit free rotation of the grip. Therefore it is anobject of this invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes theaforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides animprovement that is a significant contribution to the training deviceart.

Another object of this invention is to provide a training device thateliminates the need for visually inspecting whether the player hasproperly gripped the handle for the desired grip associated with acertain type of stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis racket trainerthat provides a tactual indication to the tennis player as to whetherthe handle of the tennis racket is properly gripped and oriented for thedesignated grip associated with a certain type of forehand, backhand,volley or other type of stroke. Further, the invention has two points oftactile indication so that the player may use either side of the tennisracket during play and achieve the same result to locate the propergrip.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a removableaccessory for the handle of the racket that may be applied without toolsor defacement of the handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer thatdoes not interfere with the stroking of the tennis racket during normalplay.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer that maybe used with any desired grip position that the player prefers (e.g.,positioned to provide tactile indication to the player for a“continental” grip, “eastern” grip, “western” grip, etc., some of thecommon grips used by tennis players today).

Another object of this invention is to provide a grip training devicethat is easily attached to existing tennis rackets and then removedtherefrom after the player has become sufficiently proficient at thegame and therefore no longer needs the assistance of the grip trainingdevice.

Another object of this invention is to provide a grip training devicethat is economically manufactured and is sufficiently durable towithstand the rigors of game play.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a compact smoothattachment not having a bulky configuration with hard or sharp edgesthat could cause injury to a player.

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of theinvention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrativeof some of the more prominent features and applications of the intendedinvention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying thedisclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the inventionwithin the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and afuller understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring tothe summary of the invention and the detailed description describing thepreferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention definedby the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a removable tactile tennis trainer that iscircumferentially applied at or near the bottom of the handle of atennis racket or similar handle portion of a sporting device (e.g.,paddle, mallet, etc.). The grip training device functions to provide adual-point tactual indication to the tennis player as to whether thetennis player has properly gripped the handle of the tennis racket forthe desired stroke. More particularly, the tennis trainer comprises aband with two ridges located equidistant from each other, eachprotruding from the exterior surface of the band and acting as a tactilephysical stop for the end of a player's finger as the racket is rotatedamong various types of grips used during play. The circular band may bepositioned around the tennis racket handle so that the ridges arelocated directly across from each other (i.e., 180 degrees apart) at anypoint on any of the bevels of the racket handle. This dual-positioningand equidistant spacing allows for the trainer to be utilized for thatdesignated grip when either side of the racket is being used duringplay.

An object of this invention to provide an apparatus that overcomes theaforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides animprovement that is a significant contribution to the training deviceart.

Another object of this invention is to provide a training device thateliminates the need for visually inspecting whether the player hasproperly gripped the handle for the desired grip associated with acertain type of stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis racket trainerthat provides a tactual indication to the tennis player as to whetherthe handle of the tennis racket is properly gripped and oriented for thedesired grip associated with a certain type of stroke. Further, theinvention has two points of tactile indication so that the player mayuse either side of the tennis racket during play and achieve the sameresult to locate the proper grip.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a removableattachment for the handle of a tennis racket that may be applied withouttools or defacement of the handle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis racket trainerthat provides a tactual indication to the tennis player as to whetherthe handle of the tennis racket is properly gripped and oriented for thedesired grip associated with a designated type of stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer whichdoes not interfere with the stroking of the tennis racket during normalplay.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer that maybe used with any desired grip position that the player prefers (e.g.,positioned for a “continental” grip, “eastern” grip, “western” grip,etc.)

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer whichmay easily attached to existing tennis rackets and then removedtherefrom after the tennis player has become sufficiently proficient atthe game and therefore no longer needs the assistance of the tennistrainer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tennis trainer which iseconomically manufactured and is sufficiently durable to withstand therigors of the game of tennis.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a compact smoothattachment not having a bulky configuration with hard or sharp edgesthat could cause injury to a player.

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of theinvention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrativeof some of the more prominent features and applications of the intendedinvention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying thedisclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the inventionwithin the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and afuller understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring tothe summary of the invention and the detailed description describing thepreferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention definedby the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,one should reference the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an illustrations of the invention installed on or nearthe bottom portion of the handle of a tennis racket;

FIG. 2 is a closer view of FIG. 1 and illustrates an example of theproper positioning of the invention on the handle and shows the ridgesof the device protruding further from the exterior surface of the bandand positioned opposite each other on the handle;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the bottom of the handle of the racket (alsocalled the “end-cap”) and illustrates the invention applied above theend-cap; the ridges of the invention are shown protruding from theexterior surface of the device; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration from the bottom of the racket showing aperson's hand gripping the racket with the invention applied to theracket handle; the end of the pinky finger of the hand is abutting oneof the two ridges of the invention to demonstrate placement to use thedevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a view of a tennis racket 10 with the invention shown asapplied on the racket handle 12 on or near the bottommost end (alsocalled end-cap) 14 of the handle 12. Basically, the invention iscomposed of a band 16 of varying widths, thicknesses and diameters thatis made of elastic material such as rubber, silicone or similarmaterials and can be easily applied and removed from the racket bystretching and applying over the end-cap 14 of the racket handle 12.

As shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, included on the band 16 at twopoints equidistant from each other on the circular band are “ridges” 18that protrude from the exterior surface of the band and act as a tactilephysical stop for a player's pinky finger 20 as the racket is rotatedamong various types of grips during play. When the invention is appliedand the hand grips the racket handle, the pinky finger 20 and the outeredge of the hand 22 (specifically, the region including the Musculusabductor digiti minimi muscle of the hand) lay on top of the invention,and the end of the pinky finger abuts to one of the two ridges 18. Theband 16 may be positioned around the tennis racket handle so that theridges 18 are located directly across from each other at any point onany of the handle's bevels 26, which are the generally flat sides of theindustry-standard octagonal-shaped racket handle. The ability to rotatethe device to be situated in any position around the racket handleallows the invention to be utilized for any type of designated grip thatthe player desires, and the dual-positioning of the ridges equidistantfrom each other on the band 16 allows for utilization if the device wheneither side of the tennis racket is being used during play.

The circular, elastic band 16 is typically produced by conventionalextrusion or injection molding techniques with tooling designed toaccommodate many varieties of sizes, textures and colors depending onuser preferences. The band 16 is produced in different diameter sizes togenerally fit standard-sized tennis racket handle grip sizes produced inthe industry for rackets used by children and adults. The band 16 mustbe small enough in diameter to ensure that it creates a tight fit overhandle so as to not rotate or slide during the rigors of play. The“ridges” 18 are designed to be thick enough and of sufficient heightfrom the exterior of the band 16 that they can still be felt by theplayer when a standard “overwrap” grip is applied over the invention.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Now that theinvention has been described,

I claim:
 1. A grip training device for tennis rackets or other sportingobjects for use by players to position the hand at a designated point onthe racket handle when gripped, with said device comprising; a band orwrap produced from relatively elastic materials in varying widths anddiameters that encircles the handle of a tennis racket or other sportingobjects, with said band containing two externally protruding ridgeslocated circumferentially equidistant from each other with each ridgeused by the player to abut the end of the finger during play toestablish a tactile point of reference for desired hand positioning whengripping the racket;